Help - Fishing For Alungi

[busumark]

shanook on the west side from the first xifer to the second xifer is all good. i caught even closer to shore

[shanook]

Got u busumark. Since I might be in Bugibba this year I might as well get used to this part of the world eh.

[Gazzetta]

As a leader can I use the Power Pro Microfilament line ? It's 32mm thick and holds 24 kgs. Bought from Fishing World in Naxxar.
What do you think ?

Thanks
Chris 

[gottie]

No, ideally as a leader you should use some good quality mono, it should then be backed up by power pro. Nevertheless I must say there there are some people who attach the pwoer pro spectra directly to the lure.

Make sure that you use the right knot when joining power pro with mono. On the box of power pro it tells you what knot you should use.

[skip]

I wouldnt use Powerpro as a leader, there's no strech in it and you likely to pull hooks out of the fishes mouth. Remember you want some shock absorption in a line, hence leaders tend to be called shock leaders. You'll have to play your drag very well if you go all powerpro and remember as more line goes off the spool and so the drag increases even if you don't move the drag leader.

For trolling if you use Spectra (Powerpro) as Gottie says, it should be used as a reel backing to increase line capacity on smaller reels.

For very big fish that we don't get here, say 150kgs, the Americans put 150lbs sepctra backing on their big 80lbs reels as the diameter is the same as 30lbs mono and then they top off with a 200-300lbs shock leader or 150lbs mono for 50-100yards and then a bigger shock leader.

I had this setup on my reels for a while and realised it was a serious serious overkill, although in my case I went to 80lbs mono topshot.

This year as I know have nearly all wide reels, I will put all mono and fluoro leader and on the smaller reels use up my powerpro with mono top shot and fluoro leader until it wears out. Will then really with 60lbs spectra, but once I bought the 150lbs spectra may as well re-use it!!

[gottie]

One experiment I tried last year is that I tied 1 metre of 80lb power pro to 1 metre of 80lb berkley line, then I tied it to a door handle and pulled until the line broke.

I tried it twice and on both occasions it was the power pro which broke not the berkley mono!

[The_Gaffer]

For Alungi I use 40lbs Momoi diamond line, and 60lbs Strenn flourocarbon leader.  Never had a line break yet.  Both lines are joined using a berkley 37Kgs stainless steel swivel. 

[benri]

From where to where do you mean by west coast please? From say West of Rabat to West of Gozo?  and what do you mean by 1st and 2nd xifer? as my boat is also moored at St paul's bay

shanook on the west side from the first xifer to the second xifer is all good. i caught even closer to shore

[skip]

One experiment I tried last year is that I tied 1 metre of 80lb power pro to 1 metre of 80lb berkley line, then I tied it to a door handle and pulled until the line broke.

I tried it twice and on both occasions it was the power pro which broke not the berkley mono!

Gottie, remember that manufacturers often under spec the ratings of their mono. So 80lbs mono will break at closer to 100lbs. Spectra and especially fluoro are basically spot on, so 80lbs spectra will break at or close to 80, hence it broke before the mono. You'd have to try with 80 spectra and 60lbs mono to get a more real life picture.

This is why the mono top shot is always less than the spectra backing so that your mono breaks before your expensive spectra.

In the case of fluoro as it's the last link you don't want that breaking causing you to lose your fish and lure, you put a stronger fluoro leader than the mono top shot.

[Gazzetta]

Hi Guys,

So with the 40 lb what leader should I use ?  Should I increase to 60 lb if I change my reels' lines in the future ?

Thanks
Chris 

[The_Gaffer]

Hi Guys,

So with the 40 lb what leader should I use ?  Should I increase to 60 lb if I change my reels' lines in the future ?

Thanks
Chris 

See my post further up.  Remember Chris, the leader forms part of the terminal tackle, i.e. the end piece of line where the lure and hook is.  This should be somewhat stronger then your main line.  40lbs leader for albacore (alungi) is lightweight.  I think if you get hit by an alunga it could snap.  Theory is this: 
You're trolling at 6 knts, you have your drag settings at 10% of the fish weight, so lets say in this case your drag setting is at 2-3 kgs. Another factor to take into consideration is that albacore usually strike at a speed of 25-30mph.  Combining all these factors together, plus the strain put on the leader by the fish, the theory (backed by experience) suggests that the leader should always be of a grade heavier then your main line.  Also, some leader line will be inside the alunga's mouth, and it has to withstand the abrasions of the fine teeth the alunga has.  My opinion is that it would snap.  The main line doen't snap on impact because it is cushioned by the belly of line that forms while trolling.  Also, you'll have over 50mtrs of line out....this cushions the initial impact of the strike...the drag does the rest during this intial shock.  After that, the rod and drag and angling technique come into play.  Never tighten your drag to a point where if the fish at the other end decides to make a run for it, the reel does not give out line.  And beleive me Chris, Alungi do make a run for it!!!!.  Even as you reel in the fish, and it gets closer to the boat, as the fish senses the boat...it has big eyes....it will make a run for it, thats when most novice anglers lose there catch.   

[busumark]

yes benri the west coast is teh area that you mentioned you troll between 6miles to 10 miles from land. Skip,Gottie,The gaffer I think that you catch a lot more alungi than me because you fish with good rigs and finer lines. i use a hand line of 1.2mm and the last 10mts i use .90mm. but i dont catch a lot

[skip]

Busumark, try a flurocarbon leader, seriously I had super poor results last year until I changed over as I was using 80lbs line. Think your hit rate will go up much higher if you try that.

[busumark]

i will try but everytime i used flourocarbon for squid or bottom fishing near the coast there was never any difference from normal lines

[skip]

Can't comment about bottom fishing, total newb there, but remember Alungi and Tuna have massive eyes and therefore excellent eyesight, Far more than the other type of fish normally tagetted.